After India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following the killing of 26 civilians in Pahalgam, Taliban-ruled Afghanistan has announced plans to restrict Pakistan’s water access from the Kunar River. Taliban Supreme Leader Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada has ordered the Afghan Ministry of Water and Energy to begin dam construction on the Kunar River “as fast as possible,” with contracts to be signed with domestic companies.
Taliban Plans to Block Kunar River
The 480-km Kunar River, originating in northeastern Afghanistan, flows into Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and joins the Kabul River, ultimately feeding the Indus. Any reduction in its flow could impact irrigation and water security in Pakistan’s KP and Punjab provinces.
Afghanistan has no formal water-sharing agreement with Pakistan, raising concerns of a regional water crisis. This move follows clashes along the Durand Line and Afghanistan’s ongoing push for water sovereignty.
Meanwhile, India and Afghanistan continue cooperating on hydropower projects such as the Salma and Shahtoot Dams.
